Folding motor vehicle for aircraft



1951 R. R. JENNER ET AL FOLDING MOTOR VEHICLE FOR AIRCRAFT 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 26, 1947 W n S 1- 1 mm 0 m m WM 4, H w WM fl y B r 4 v T 5 w 00 5 i I WJWJ 1951 R. R. JENNER ET AL FOLDING MOTOR VEHICLE FOR AIRCRAFT 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 26, 1947 1951 R. R. JENNER ET AL FOLDING MOTOR VEHICLE FOR AIRCRAFT 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 26, 1947 fa/mzo #1701524 B Jan. 2, H951 K R. R. JENNER ET-AL FOLDING MOTOR VEHICLE FOR AIRCRAFT 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 26, 1947 airplane;

Patented Jan. 2, I951 Ray Richard Jenner, Wichita, Kana, and Donald H. Mitchell, Chicago, Ill.

' Application September 26, 1947 Serial No. 776,196

19 Claims. 1

'- The invention herein d sclosed relates to motor z vehicles of a folding type.

Objects of the invention are to provide a light weightmotor vehicle capable of carrying one or more passengers and baggage and which will be foldable into small space so that it may be carried in the baggage compartment of a small or medium size airplane.

7 Particular objects of the-invention are to provide a motor vehicle of this character which can bestowed away in a relatively small space in an 'arplane and which when needed can be easily taken out and quickly set up and used, for example, to transport a pilot and passenger, with accompanying baggage, from an outlying airport to a town or business center; also, of such char- 7 fully capable of carrying passengers and baggage,

at reasonable speed, over ordinary roads such as usually present between city centers and outlying air fields.

Other special objects of the invention are to provide a motor carrier such as indicated, which can be produced and operated at low cost and which will meet existing requ'rements as to controls, lighting, identification and the like.

Other desirable objects and the novel features through which all purposes of the invention are attaned are set forth or will appear in the course of the following specification.

The drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification illustrate a present practical commercial embodiment of the invention. Structure, however, may be mod'fied and changed as regards the immediate illustration, all within the true intent and broad scope of the invention as hereinafter defined and claimed.

Fig. 1 in the drawing is a top plan view of the machine as set up for use;

I Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the same folded z Fig. 6 is a broken part sectional View of'the steering segment and inner port'ons of the reach rods which are connected with the steering knuckles; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan View of the belt transmission connections from the motor to the rear wheel; r

Fig. 8 is a broken side elevat on showing one of the wheel trusses folded back against the side of the body or main frame Figs. Q'and 10 are broken sectional details of one of the couplings for the steering or reach rods; Fig. 11 is a side elevat'on of the machine set up for use with portions of the body structure broken away and appearing in section;

Fig. 12 is a broken sectional detail of the hinged steering handle at the top of the steerng column. As shown in Figs. I and 2, the vehicle comprises a narrow, box-like body !5 providing a mounting for the motor, transmission and rear driving wheel it, short enoughto bestowed transversely in the baggage compartment of what may be cons'dered an average size personal airplane and having trusses H, 58, carrying the front Wheels l9, 20,-and hinged at the front corner portionsof the body at' 2l,'22,' so as'to' fold back closely against the sides of the body.

The foldabl-e side portions H, i8, as shown in Fig. 8, are of substantially triangular formation, mounting the p'voted steering knuckles 23 at their outer ends, the latter carrying the spindles or axles as for the wheels and provided with steering arms 25. i

' Pivotally connected with the outer ends of the truss frames i1, l8, at 25, are spreader rods 21 which can be connected together at the center to hold the front wheels in rigidly spaced relation. The means for coupl'ng the spreader rods'21 is shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 as a triangular folding truss 28 pivoted horizontally to the lower forward corners of the body at 29 so as to drop down from an upwardly folded position at the front of the body, as shown in Fig. 2, into the forwardly projecting relation shown n Fig. 3, in line with the adjoining inner ends of the spreader rods.

for storage in the baggage compartment of an Fig. 3 is a broken and part sectional plan view of the main frame portions of the machine, on

a larger scale;

Figs. 4 and 5 are further enlarged broken and part sectional views showing the front wheel spreaderbars and coupler, first in coupled and then in the disconnected, ready to be coupled -.re.1at.

These rods are shown as having perforated lugs 3!! at their inner ends to engage over forwardly projecting pins 3! at the apex of the coupling truss 28, where they are removably secured by a turn handle 32' pivoted at 33 on the stud 34, carried by the truss and forced by spring 35 into engagement over the ends of the rods, as in Fig. 4. The overlying end portions of the turn handle are shown as recessed at 36 to seat over the ends of the pins 3 I, thus to be held by the spring in in,v

terlocked engagement over the coupled rod ends.

The coupling truss 28 is supported at a fixed level in its lowered position by a short length of flexible cable 31 connected with the top portion of the frame at 38, Fig. 1.

Steering is accomplished by an upright steering column 39 journaled in the forward portion of the body and carrying at its lower'end a double arm lever or segment 49, Fig. 6, carrying studs" 4i,

42, on which are pivotally engaged the crossed inner sections 43, 44, of the Steering rods or links.

The outer sections of these steering. rods or links are designated 45, 46, Fig. 3, and the two sections of each rod are disconnectably coupled as by the means illustrated in Figs. 9' and 10 and comprising interlocking, companion, transverse. jaw elements 41, 48, on the meeting ends of" the sections held interlocked in the longitudinally aligned relation of the sections by a sliding plunger 49 in. one section, extended. by a spring 50 in thatsection to the. extent permitted by the transverse pin or key on the plunger operating ina transverse slot 52 in the tubular rod section.

Using the transverse. pins 51 as handles, the spring plungers 49 can be withdrawn. as in. Fi 9, to immediately release and permit uncoupling. of the joined sections of the steering. rods. With the. spring plungers withdrawn as in Fig- 9, the toothed half sections 41, 48 at the ends of therods may be brought into. aligned, meshed. relation and the plungers released to lock them in this condition, as indicated in Fig. 10.

When the tubular links described. are uncoupied as in Fig. 9, the longer lengths 45, 45, will remain connected. with the steering arms 25 and be carried back by the side frames ll, l8, as the latter are folded back against the sides of the body frame, as particularly shown in Fig. 2.

To holdthem in this relation and tokeep them supported while the sides are being foldedback, sockets 53 are provided on thelower arms of the truss frames I! and 1'8, in position to receive the ends of the spring plungers 49.

Thus when the rod. sections are uncoupled they may be immediately secured in. supported relation at the. sides of the wheel frames l1, l8, by swinging such sections 45, 48. inward against. the lower arms of such. frames and engaging the spring. plungers 49 inthe. socket 53, Figs. 2 and,8-.

-When the steering links are uncoupled andthe longer sections folded. back against the sides of the frame, thev shorter sections. 43, 44, remain connected with the lever system 4.0 at the lower end of. the steering column where they can be turnedv inward on their pivot studs 41,. 42,. beneath the-body structure- To allow for the crossed relation,v using straight links, one link 43,v 45, is taken off the top of the steering lever segment 40, Fig. 6, and. the other link 44, 45, off the bottom of. that lever. At. their outer ends these links are shown as pivotally connected with the steering arms 25 by universal joints 54, which allow for all necessary adjustments of the links and facilitatethe coupling and uncoupling. operations.

The motor is indicated ail-55,. Fig. 11,. as asmall internal combustion engine mounted on: the framework 56 and housed within the covering or sheathing of the body I5.

The transmission is shown as a beltdrive com nection 5'! from the motor pulley 58 to an intermediate pulley 59 carrying a second. pulley 60 connected by belt 6| with afinaldrive pulley 62 on the rear wheel it. The latter'is' indicated; as journaled on an axle 63 supported. across the rearward lower corner portion of the main frame.

For control purposes the intermediate pulleys 59, so, are journaled on a stud 54 carried by a lever 55 pivoted on a horizontal axis 56 at one end and drawn upward at the opposite end to effect tightening of the belts by a spring 61, Fig. 11.

To swing the pulley carrying lever 65 downward to loosen the belts, there is provided a cable 68 connected with the free end of the lever and extending over guide pulleys 69, 10, to one end of the cam lever H. pivoted on the frame at 12 and having a cam portion 13 toward its opposite end engaged by cam roller 14 on the lower end of a control. lever 15 pivoted at 16.

As shown inFig. 11, the control lever 15 in an upright, neutral position, depresses the forward end of the rocker lever H sufficiently for the cable 68 to hold the pulley carrying lever 65 down against the tension. of. spring 5-! enough to release the belts 51 and GI to prevent forward drive.

By pushing control. lever [5 forward the rocker or cam lever 'il will be. permitted to rock under pull of the spring 61. sufliciently for the belts to tighten on the pulleys 59, 60, thus to effect aforward drive or clutched. relation from the engine to the rear drive wheel.

To enable lever. to be used for braking as well as for forward drive control, there is provided in the present illustration a. brake operating cable 11 connected. with the lower portion of saicllever above the roller 14 and... extending .rearwardly over a. guide roller 18 and downward to the. arml9 for operating. the brake 80, Figs. 3 and 1.1.

The cam 13 of lever 1 I is given an upward rise so that, as shown in Fig. 1.1,,said lever will bedepressed or held in a lowered clutch releasing position as the control lever 15 is rocked. backward to apply the. brake.

The steering. column 39 is shown as operated by a hand lever 9|. having a. shackle. 82. pivoted on top of the column at 83 and adjustable up and down over a motion limiting segment 84,. Fig. 12. A springball. detentisv indicated at 85 for releas-- ably retaining. the. steering handle in either itsraised position for use or in a lowered, folded position.

A transversely extending seat 86 is shown removably mounted on. top of. the body, made up of. a. tubular frame 87 covered with canvas or the like and suited for carrying two passengers, one at each side of the body..

The seat frame 8''! is. shown asv having a back; rest frame 8-8 pivoted thereon at 89, Fig. 11, and this pivoted backrest frame: is shown as carrying hooks 90 projecting from. the lower edge. to enter between the sides of. the main frame and. hook under a cross brace; 91 connecting the topside bars92 of the frame.

Atthefront edge the seat frame 81 is shown as having dependenhrigid hooks 93 to enter be tween the side rails-9E and catch beneath. the cross brace 94.

In Fig. 11 it will be seen: that upon rocking the back: brace 88: forwardly as in dotted lines, the swinging books 90- will be released from the cross bar 9! and the whole seat can then be shifted forwardly sufficiently to disengage the forward hooks 93 from the cross brace 94. Thus the seat can be quickly removed from the frameand it will be evident that itcan be asquickly mounted and secured on the frame by firstlocat. ing it with the forward hooks 93- caught beneath the. cross bar 94 and then rocking the backrest 88 from'a lowered position upwardly, as in the s full lines, Fig. 11, to catch the swinging hooks .99.,beneath the cross brace 9|. In use the backrest 88 will be held in the upright, locked position which can be stored alongside of and as a related part of the folded machine, particularly since it may be of approximately the same proportions as the side dimensions of the body.

For carrying baggage, the side swinging wheel frames 11, I8, are shown as having vertical'walls 95 of heavy fabric or the like and similar, forwardly extending flooring panels 96. For folding purposes the latter are shown as secured horizontally at the rear, at 91, Fig. 8, to the upright panels 95 and as looped or secured at their forward edges about the spreader rods 21, Fig. 1.

At the center the bottom or flooring panels 96 are shown caught over the side bars of the forwardly extending triangular coupling truss 28 by straps 98 removably secured as by snap fasteners 99. This prevents objectionable sagging under the weight of baggage or other objects placed on these panels.

' When the machine is to be folded, the panel securing straps 98 may be unsnapped at 99 and then, as shown in Fig. 8, when the side frames are folded back, the spreader rods 21 to which the panels 96 are secured, may be supported by carrying the intermediate, strap 100p portions of these panels downward and then upward about the rods 21 and snapping the fasteners 99 over special snap fastener elements H19 provided for that purpose on the side panels 95, Figs. 8 and 11.

Footrests for the passengers are provided in the illustration by an opening or openings I91 in the back panels 95, exposing the lower rails I92 of the side frames ll, l8. r

The side frames l1, l8, are shown as'carrying lamps I93 which will face forwardly in the driving position, Fig.1, and horn, license brackets and other accessories may all be mounted on the body of the machine, as desired or required.

In the folded condition of the machine the side frames may be secured together across the back of the machine by a temporary connecting strap or the like. In this condition the machine constitutes a single, compact package which will rest solidly on the three wheels in their. closely adjoined relation. As shown in Fig. 2, the wheels at the sides will not be as far back as the rear drive wheel and the projecting relation of this wheel enables the folded machine to be trundled along by lifting the front end of the structure, and this may be done by grasping the upwardly folded coupling truss 28 at that end and using it as a handle for pushing or pulling the folded object.

The main frame and other parts may be made of light, welded, aluminum tubing so that wh le amply strong, the structure will be relatively light in weight. The folding into a substantially rectangular shaped package facilitates handling and enables the machine to be stowed in baggage compartments of the size usually provided in personal planes. The machine is of such size that it may be handled by one person andhence be used by a lone pilot. On arrival at an airport the'machine may be lifted out in the folded package form and be quickly set up by swinging the side frames ll, l8, forwardly from the position shown in Fig.2, to the position shown in Fig. 1, unsnapping the straps 98 from the supported position shown. in Fig. 8 and connecting .the spreader-bars 27 together by the center coupling frame or truss 28, the latter being accomplished as shown in Fig. 5, by engaging the ends of the rods 21 over the pins 3i and turning the spring clamp 32 as in Fig. 4., to secure them in that relation. The straps 98 of the bottom panels 96 may then be looped about the sides of the truss 28 and snapped in that relation. The outer steering rod sections 45, 46, after being uncoupled from the holding sockets 53 by withdrawing the slide bolts 49, Fig. 8, may then be joinedto their shorter mating sections 93, 44, as indicated in Figs. 9 and 10, using the slide bolts 49 in this case to lock the joined sections rigidly together.

The seat 89 is mounted by simply placing it across the top of the frame and interlocking the fixed and the swinging books 93, 99, with the top cross bars 94, 9|.

The engine may be equipped with an exposed cord pulley 94, Fig. 1, for starting the same, or starting may be accomplished by simply pushing the vehicle with the lever 15 in a forward, clutch engaged position.

Various controls such as an ignition switch or exhaust valve lifter.l05 and throttle control I95 may be provided for the motor, as indicated in Fig. 1, with a view to furnishing a motor carrier for aircraft passengers and baggage, completely satisfactory as to roadability and other characteristics. I

While particularly important as providing a practical means of land transportation for airplane pilots and passengers, it is realized that the motor vehicle herein disclosed, because of its ready and compact foldability, has many other uses, for example on boats, railway trains, automobiles and the like.

The panels forming the ba age carrier, that is, upright panel 95 and horizontally extending panel 99, may be all in one piece, for example one continuouspiece of heavy canvas, which will readily fold into small space and the folding may be accomplished by simply doubling the intermediate portion of the lower panel 96 upwardly between tie rod 2? and vertical panel 95 instead of looping it under and about the tie rod, as illustrated in Fig. 8.

' What is claimed is:

1. A folding motor vehicle for aircraft comprising a body structure, side frames hinged to the forward end of said body structure and carrying steerable road wheels, a drive wheel at the rear ward end of the body structure, a motor in the body structure, controllable transmission drive from said motor to said drive wheel, spreader rods connected with the outward ends of said side frames and an upwardly folding center truss pivoted to the lower front portion of the body structure and arranged to be swung downward into position for connecting the inner ends of said spreader rods.

2. A folding motor vehicle for aircraft comprising a body structure, side frames hinged to the forward end of said body structure and carrying steerable road wheels, a drive wheel at the rearward end of the body structure, a motor in the body structure, controllable transmission drive from said motor to said rear drive wheel,

7 :snreadenrods monnected with tire-:outward mends 10f lsaid .tside frames and can "upwardly iiolding :centerztruss pivoted to the lower .Iront portion of the :body structure and arranged to ibe :swung downward int position for LCOnnBOting :the inner ends of said spreader .rod's, :a steering column ,journaled in said body structure and links in 'separably :connectable sections extending ifrom saidsteering column .to saidsteerabkwheels.

A-Ioldingmoto-r vehicle for aircrattioompri's- :ing .a :body structure, :"side iframes hinged 410 the forward end of said body structure and rcarrying steerable road awheels, fa drive 'wheel at the rearward'iend oi the body-structure, :armotorn'n the body :structur'e, controllable transmission drive lfrom saidmotor to said rear adrive wvheel, spreadser rods connected with theoutward ends "of said side :Irames, nan upwardly tiolding center truss ;pivoted to the lower .iront :portion :of @the body structure and arranged to "be swung downward into-position for connectingthe inner rendsrcfisaid -spreader rods and .a quick freleasable coupling :carried by said downwardly lowering truss :for locking the ends of the spreader rods together in connected relation.

:4. A folding motor vehicle .'.for aircraft icom- I 1prising' aa body structure, side Iframes :hinged to the forward tend of said body structure and carirying steerable roadxwheels, aidrive wheel at the rearward end of the body structure, ta motor in r the ;body :structure, controllable transmission drive from .said motor :to said :rear drive wheel, :spreader rods connected with the :outward ends nofwsaidsideirames and an upwardly folding center trussl-pivoted to'the lower front portion of :the 2* 5. (A iold-ing'motor vehicle lfor :carrying on-air- Uorait comprising -a generally rectangular body :frame -side frames hinged to forward .end per- :tions of said body frame and arranged to "swing rearwardly at the opposite sides of said body :ira-me, road wheels -on said aside frames and the wear-ward endioi said body frame, means for setouring said 'side frames "in ,forwardly {positioned relation, means on said body frame for effecting steerin of the wheels on said .side frames and disoonnectable to enable folding of said side frames toward the sides of said body frame, a .motor insaid body frame connectedito drive said rear wheel and a cross seat detachably mounted on topofsaidbody frame in backzof saidhinged llymounted side frames.

'6. A folding motor vehicle for carrying on air- ;crait comprising a generally rectangular body .ilrame, side frames "hinged to forward end portions of said body frame and arranged to swing rearwardly at the opposite sides of said body iframe, road wheels on saidsideframes and the rearward end of said body frame, means forseeuring said side frames in forwardly positioned irelation, :meansonsaid body irame for effecting steering :of the wheels, son said side .frames and ldisconnectable to enable folding of :said side frames toward the sides of said body frame, "a ;motor in said b'odyirame connected todrive said Rear wheel, a *cross seat detachably amounted/on top said sbody drama in back :of said .hmgedly mounted side zirames and :baggage :suppo'rting' means carr'ie'd jointly by said s-de frames zantl "said.meansdor connecting th'e same.

7 A folding motor vehicle .ior carrying fontfaircraft comprising -a generally rectangular body frame, :si'de :iram'es hinged to forward end Fpor- .tions -'nf1said 'body irame and "arranged to swing rearwardl-y at the opposite sides of said body frame, road wheels on said side tframe'sand the .reaiward end 101" said body frame, meansf'or seouring said side :irames in forwardly positioned relation, .means on said body frame ..for iefiectin'g steering of the wheels on said sidexrrames and ldisconnectable to enable ofoldin'g of said iside :frames toward the sides of said body fram'eat motor in said 'body i'irame connected to drive said :rear wheelya cross seat .detachabl'y mounted onxtop-ofisaidbody franiein back of said hingedly mounted aside trainee and baggage supporting means carried jointly by said side frames and said rmeans for connecting the :same, including z'a forwardly projecting truss .hingedly connected with "the lower, forward portion of said ibody .irame and supporting panels connected between said :side frames, the ime'ansfor connecting "the same andz'said forwardly projecting hinged itru'ss.

8. oAifolding :motor vehicle .for carrying 'on'aircraft comprising a body frame of narrow, upright, generally rectangular structure, a drive wheel ,journaled at therear 10f said *body frame, substantially triangular truss Lframes liournaled at the forward corners .dfxsaid body frame and ffol'da'ble :rearwardly over opposite :sides of the same, steerableifront wheels journalediatithe .ends of said .foldable "side i-iirames, ta substantially triangular truss hinged "to the ilOWBlI, forward corners of the body frame, spreader :rods oonneotedlwith the outward ends oisaid side dramas, quick releasable coupling means on said :truss for securing the inner ends of said spreader .r'o'dsya motor mounted in said body frame and controllable drive connections from 'saidimotors to saidrearwh'eel.

9. A:foldingfmotoryehiole for carrying on aircraft comprising a body iframe of narrow, in right, :generally rectangular structure, a drive wheel ,jiournaledzat :the vrear of said body frame, substantially triangular truss frames Journaled a't the :forwardcorners of said body frame andlfoldable rearwardiy over "opposite sides :of the same, steerable .front wheels journaIedLat the-ends of said foldabl'eiside frames, azsubstantiallyatriangular truss hinged :to the lower, 'forward corners of the bodyiiiframe, spreader rods connected avi-th the outward ends of said side frames, :quic-k -areleasable coupling means onsaid truss for securing the inner ends of said spreader rods, :a trio-- tor mounted in said 'body :frame, controllable drive connections from said motor to said .rear wheel and readily disconnectable steering connections from said body frame tosaid steerable wheels.

.10. Arlolding motor vehicle for carrying oniaircraft comprising a body :frame, a drive wheel journaled at the rear of said body frame, a motor mounted in "said body frame and arranged lfor operating said drive wheel, road wheel carrying trusses :hingedly connected with the iorwardmor-v tion of said body frame and foldablerearwardly towardith'e sides ofrsaidibody frame, an upwardly folding truss v'hinge'dly connected with the forward "portion .ofsaid body frame :and spreader bans d1sconneotalzaly secured "between said truss andside names. 7

11. A folding motor vehicle for carrying on aircraft comprising a body frame, front wheel carrying side frames hinged to the forward portion of said body frame and arranged to fold backward toward the sides of the body frame, spreader rods connected with said side frames, a brace for connecting said spreader rods, said brace being pivoted to the lower, forward portion of said body frame and arranged to swing downward into a forwardly projecting position between said spreader rods, a connection for supporting said brace in forwardly projecting position and quick releasable means on said brace for detachably securing the inner ends of said spreader rods thereto.

12. A folding motor vehicle for carrying on aircraft comprising a body frame, front wheel carrying side frames hinged to the forward portion of said body frame and arranged to fold backward toward the sides of the body frame, spreader rods connected with said side frames, a brace for connecting said spreader rods, said brace being pivoted to the lower, forward portion of said body frame and arranged to swing downward into a forwardly projecting position between said spreader rods, a connection for supporting said brace in forwardly projecting position and quick releasable means on said brace for detachably securing the inner ends of said spreader rods thereto and including securing studs, the inner ends of said rods being engageable over said studs, and a spring pressed turn clamp engageable over the ends of said spreader rods and rotatable from a position clear of the same to a position holding them engaged on said studs, said turn clamp having sockets engageable over the ends of said studs in said securing position.

13. A folding motor vehicle for carrying on aircraft comprising a body frame, front wheel carrying side frames hingedly connected with the forward portion of said body frame and foldable rearwardly against the sides of the same, a front brace hinged to the forward portion of said body frame in position to be lowered in a forwardly projecting relation between the wheel carrying side frames, means for supporting said front brace in said forwardly projecting relation, a spreader connection for securing said front wheel carrying side frames in spaced relation at the front of the body frame and quick releasable means for connecting said spreader connection with said forwardly projecting brace.

14. A folding motor vehicle for carrying on aircraft comprising a body frame, wheel carrying side frames hingedly connected with said body frame and arranged to extend forwardly of the same, releasable means for securing said wheel carrying framesin said forwardly projecting relation and means carried by said wheel carrying frames for forming a baggage carrier compartment between said side frames in said forwardly projecting relation.

15. A folding motor vehicle for carrying on aircraft comprising a body frame, wheel carrying side frames hingedly connected with said body I frame and arranged to extend forwardly of the same, releasable means for securing said wheel carrying frames in said forwardly projecting relation and means carried by said wheel carrying 1,030,357

frames for forming a baggage carrier compartment between said side frames in said forwardly projecting relation and including detachably connected rod members and compartment forming panels foldably connected with said rod members.

16. A folding motor vehicle for carrying on aircraft comprising a body frame, side frames foldably connected with said body frame, steering wheels carried by said side frames, links for operating said steering wheels and comprising tubular sections joined in end-to-end relation, said sections having mating jaw elements and sliding plungers operable in said sections to hold the sections aligned in interlocked engagement and sockets on the side frames positioned to receive the ends of saidsliding plungers to support the disconnected sections in the folded relation of the parts.

17. A folding motor vehicle for carrying on aircraft comprising a body frame, a drive wheel journaled at the rear of said body frame, side frames hingedly connected with the forward portion of said body frame and foldable rearwardly against the sides of the same, steering wheels carried by said side frames,a spreader connection for securing the side frames in forwardly projecting relation, a brace extending forwardly from the front of the body frame to said spreader connection, panels carried by said side frames, spreader connection and brace for forming a baggage compartment at the front of the body frame, a steering column on the body frame and steering connections extending from the lower end of said steering column beneath said baggage compartment to said steering wheels, said steering connections having disconnectable joints permitting the rearward folding of said side'frames.

18. A folding motor vehicle comprising a body structure, side frames hinged to one end of said body structure and carrying steerable road wheels, a drive wheel at the opposite end of the body structure, a motor in the body structure, controllable transmission drive from said motor to said drive wheel, spreader rods connected with the outward ends of said side frames, a folding center truss pivoted to the body structure and arranged to swing into position for connecting the inner ends of the spreader rods, means at the junction of said center truss with the ends of said spreader rods for releasably connecting said parts, a steering column and foldable connections from said steering column to said steerble wheels.

19. A folding motor vehicle comprising a body frame, wheel carrying side frames hingedly connected with said body frame and arranged to be extended at the sides of said body frame, releasable means for securing said wheel carrying frames in extended relation and means carried by said side frames and the means for releasably securing them extended and forming a baggage carrying compartment between the extended wheel carrying side frames.

RAY RICHARD JENNER. DONALD H. MITCHELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 731,588 Meinhard June 23, 1903 937,212 Holsman Oct. 19, 1909 Wagenhals June 25, 1912 1,312,648 Taussig Aug. 12, 1919 1,717,420 Toncray June 18, 1929 2,050,776 Anderson Aug. 11, 1936 2,073,315 McManus Mar. 9, 1937 

